Letters: Royal Oak petition signers declare: I am a bigot

Wednesday's article about the fight against Royal Oak's human rights ordinance reiterated the ongoing debate between discrimination and equality ("Human rights proposal could go to ballot"). It is disheartening to realize that this anti-fairness faction, led by Royal Oak resident Fred Birchard, is willing to ignore the rights of the 17 groups listed in the ordinance because of their lack of tolerance for only one group: LGBT residents.

It is dismaying to know that there are people willing to claim, "I am a bigot," by signing Birchard's petition to deny respect and equality to all people in our city. It is amazing to understand that people signed a petition without reading it or because they were persuaded by scare tactics and fallacies.

The time for prejudice is long past, and those who would deny civil rights to all need to evolve. Should this issue come to a vote, I am certain the residents of Royal Oak will stand with justice and compassion and adhere to equal protection under the law, as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. It is the right and moral choice.

Mary Ellen Bell,Royal Oak

Religious advice ignored

Royal Oak's Fred Birchard says, "The city just shouldn't legislate morality," when he should be saying, "The city must legislate my morality" by opposing enforcement of Royal Oak's new anti-discrimination ordinance.

Birchard's action to allow discrimination based on sexual orientation kind of ignores Christ's pesky advice to treat others as they'd like to be treated by those others.

Jim Carravallah

Livonia

Special rights for all

An April 3 article reported that Fred Birchard has twice opposed human rights ordinances proposed by the Royal Oak City Council. The article stated that "Birchard argues that the proposal provides special rights to gay people and other groups."

He is correct. The right to education, occupation, place of residence and other such aspects of life without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, weight, sexual preference and the other bigotries barred by the ordinance are the essentials of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Truly, these are "special rights" and must be assured to all Americans, not just the ones approved by Birchard and those who share his views.

Steven Fern

Auburn Hills

Not a choice

Do people who do not accept sexual "preference" truly believe that a person one morning wakes up and says, "I think, today, I'll join one of the most hated and reviled groups of people in the world"?

Most science agrees that homosexuality is biological, not a choice, anymore than blue eyes, red hair, or other physical characteristics in our genes. It's time we accepted this and made room in our hearts for those we now condemn.

Jean Barnard

Rochester Hills

Look beyond bill's title

The Religious Liberty and Conscience Protection Act may appeal to many Americans' synapses, but its name is deceiving. If this is passed in Michigan, nearly any kind of employer in health services could deny you a service because of their own religious beliefs or "conscience."

"Conscience" is described as any conviction from "the tenets of an established religion" or "the ethical or moral principles of a generally recognized philosophy" or "belief system" that can be referenced. SB136 injects religion and personal beliefs into the policy and professional realm.

A health professional could reject you if you're LGBTQI, an unwed pregnant woman, suicidal, affiliated with another religion, or anything else with the justification that it violates their own personal "philosophy" or "belief system." This bill is completely unethical. Use your right to freedom of speech and don't let this pass!

Martie Callow

Lansing

Out of tune with history

In response to the April 1 article "Historic grand piano back on display at Motown Museum": I hate to be a naysayer to such a feel-good story, but I question the decision to gut and totally rebuild Motown's Steinway piano on Paul McCartney's dime. While well intentioned, I think some level of preservation would have been a better choice. Nothing is left of the original piano except the outer case and harp (under new, shiny-gold paint).

I have played the piano since its return, and it plays well, but the brand-new white key tops decrease its historic value. Many piano technicians such as myself would have taken a much more conservative approach than Steinway did.

Clem Fortuna

Registered piano technician Grosse Pointe Park

Thank you, Jason Hanson

The Detroit Lions' season has yet to begin and we get the boneheaded announcement that management was unwilling to come up with a suitable contract for kicker Jason Hanson.

Does high productivity and consistency over 10 years count for so little? During Hanson's career with Detroit, a large number of Lions' wins came via his kicking skills alone. At age 43, Hanson is still among the best in the league. Thank you, Jason. You always played at the highest level and never complained about the Super Bowl rings that should be weighing down your hands had you left us.

Arvie A. Green

Detroit

Lions fumble again

Shame on the Detroit Lions for offering Jason Hanson a take-it-or-leave-it contract. After 21 Hall-of-Fame caliber seasons with the Lions, you would think they would treat him with a little more respect. But that's the Lions, an organization of losers.

Patrick Peirce

Clinton Township

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Letters: Royal Oak petition signers declare: I am a bigot

Wednesday's article about the fight against Royal Oak's human rights ordinance reiterated the ongoing debate between discrimination and equality ('Human rights proposal could go to ballot'). It is